Wednesday: 5 GIs, 106 Iraqis Killed; 3 GIs, 11 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 7:55 p.m. EST, Nov. 22, 2006

There was less reported violence on Wednesday than in previous days, but at least 106 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 11 were wounded. Also, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq released a report describing how violence had increased substantially during September and October. And, two American soldiers were killed and three wounded in separate events in the Salah ad Din province.

An American soldier died Tuesday of non-combat related injuries in the Salah ad Din province, said military authorities. Later, another soldier died and three more were injured in the same province when a roadside bomb blasted their vehicle. Also, a suicide car bomber targeted a U.S. patrol in Haqlaniyah, and clashes broke out between U.S. troops and gunmen in Haditha, but no casualties have so far been reported in those incidents.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) released a new report expressing its concerns that "violence (has) reached alarming levels in many parts of the country." According to UNAMI, 3,709 Iraqis died in October, making it the highest death tally since the U.S. invaded in 2003; however, many deaths go unreported.

In Baghdad, at least 60 bodies were found scattered around town, and 13 people were killed in shooting and bombings. Among these deaths, one body belonged to a government employee and was found in the Amil neighborhood. The discovery and investigation of three of the dumped bodies injured two policemen when homemade bombs exploded near them. Gunmen killed a bodyguard and injured a second guard working for the Iraqi General Assembly speaker Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, only a day after a bomb attack on the speaker’s vehicle. And Raad Jaafar Hamadi, a reporter for al Sabah newspaper, was killed in a drive-by shooting.

In Iskandariya, a bomb killed seven guards and wounded another.

The body of Karbala Mayor Basin Hasan al-Basnawi was found two days after he had been kidnapped; he was shot in the head several times. Gunmen also wounded local tribal leader Ahmed al-Allawi when they fired upon his car.

Near Muqdadiya, during a combined small arms and car bomb attack at an army checkpoint, four people were killed, including a professor, a police officer and two soldiers. Three civilians were wounded as well.

Three corpses were discovered near Ramadi.

Gunmen killed a policeman in Falluja.

In Mosul, a roadside bomb injured three policemen, and 14 bodies were recovered throughout the city.

And gunmen killed three policemen in Baquba.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis